Fluid-sampling device.



C. A. BROWN.

FLUID SAMPLING DEVICE. APPLIGATION FILED JULY 21, 1911.

1,056,254.I Patented Mar.18,1913.

INVENTOR WITNESSES CHARLES ARTHUR BROWN, or. 1.03am, lomo.

FLUID-SAMPLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led .Luly 21, 1911.

Patented Mar.I 18, 1913.

Serial No. 639,797.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES AnTrrUB BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lorain, in the county of Loraln and State of Ohiofhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Sampling Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of my invention, such as will enabley others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

One of the objects of my invention is the production of mechanism for mechanically collecting samples of iuids without the possibility of chemical or bacterial contamination or change.

Another object of my invention is to collect such samples without passing them throughJthe source of pressure` Another object of my invention is to make one source of negative pressure collect a large number of fluid samples from dnerent points or levels and to convey these samples to a common center where they can be compared or examined.

Another object of my invention is to provide glass vessels for holding changing samples of fluids which are capable of being examinedvisually and compared with other samples in such a manner that the glass vessel may readily be removed and cleaned or replaced without undue expense.

Many of the sampling devices now used consist of pumps whose suctionend is in the source from which the sample is to be taken.

`The uid to be sampled is made to pass through the pump and is forced to the point where the sample is to be examined. In this type of device, it water is to be sampled, the

water ain passing through the pump is neces-v sarily brought in contact with the moving parts of the pump, the bearings and stuftng boxes of the pump being subject to lubrication, which may introduce more or less of the lubricant into the water to be sampled Leaks around the stuiiing boxes of said pumps may result in bacterial contamination of the sample; exceedingly small leaks producing a considerable' contamination. This is particularly true where the suction lift of these pumps is considerable. In the case of iiltered waters which are relatively free from bacteria and where these waters are subjected to bacteriological examination a very small amount of contamination may vitally aifect results.

The device of my invention is calculated to eliminate any contamination resulting from the pump or source of pressure and secure an accurate and uncontaminated sample. Thus I may, as in the form of my invention illustrated and described herein, cause the water .to be sampled to pass through the sampling device before reaching the pump or source of pressure.

Other objects'ofmy invention and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying illustrations, 'showing one specic embodiment of my invention, while the scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. p

Figure 1 shows a sectional elevation on line A-A--A4 of Fig. 2 of'one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line B-BfB--B-B of the apparatus shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a .plan View of the top of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings and to the form of my invention shown therein, I show a duct 4, leading to a source of ngative fluid pressure.- This may consist of a pump suction, but lt prefer to use the suction of an ejector as a source of such negative pressure. It will readily be understood that any source of negative fluid pressure may be employed, but I preferto use a device which will be ,free from impulses. An ejector will produce a vacuum or partial vacuum at its suction and the suction chamber thereof can be connected to the duct 4 of the main vacuum chamber 1 Vot the sampling device. This chamber l, is provi-ded with a Vperforated false bottom 8.

' ln the main vacuum chamber 1"are placed as many ordinary glass goblets 12 as there are sourcesfrom which samples are desired. Above the main vacuum chamber 1 are placed a number of individual vacuum chambers 6, one individual vacuum chamber being provided for each source from which a sample is to be taken. The number of t-hese individual vacuum chambers 5 is therefore governed entirely by the number of sources from rhich a sample is desired.

A duct 17 leads from the top of each individual vacuum chamber 5 into the main vacuum chamber 1, the end of the duct 17 in the main vacuum chamber 1 terminating above the goblet 12 which is to hold the changing sample of the source from which V.it is taken.

valve 11 is preferably of the lock type and is used merely to part-ially throttle the 'dow through the duct 1T and to introduce Sudicient friction or throttling effect to regulate the flow through the duct'17 in accrdancewith`r the desired demand. ln the top ot each individual vacuum chamber 5 there is likevvis'e inserted a pet-cock 9 or valve in such a manner that atmospheric pressure may be introduced into the individual vacuum chamber or .prevented trom. enter ing said chamber as may be desired. dit or near the bottom of each individual vacuum chamber there is inserted a pet-cock or bib 8 from Which the Water collected in the individual vacuum chambers 5 may be Withdrawn at pleasure. At the same or another point near the bott-om ot the individual vacuum chamber 5 there is inserted a duct 6, Which connects the. individual vacuum chamber 5 with the source from which the sample is to be taken. This duct (i is provided with a check valve 7 which permits the Water to liow 'freely into the individual vacuum chamber 5, but prevents it trom flowing trom the individual vacuum chamber 5 to the source 'from which the sample is taken. lhe main vacuum cham ber 1 is likewise provided at its top. and approximately at its cent-er With a ground joint handhole plate 2. `Whena vacuum or partial vacuum is produced in the main vacuum chamber 1 this ground joint handhole plate 2 is seated by said vacuum or negative pressure and forms a tight tting joint. `When the Anegative pressure is released the plate 2 can then be litted from its seat Without loosening any bolts or nuts. This handhole plate 2 is provided, as shown, with an electric light bulb 16 which is connected with theelectric lighting system otP the plant and the samples may thus be compared under exactly similar light conditions at all times. rl`he main vacuum chamber 1 is likewise provided with as many glass covered portholes 13 as there are samples to be examined.

'lhe method of operation is `as follows: Then the source ot negative pressure creates a vacuum or partial if'acuum in the duct Il, this will cause a vacuum or partial vacuum in the main vacuum chamber 1, seatingn the handhole plate 2 and making a tight joint thereof. 'l`he vacuum in the vacuum chamber 1 will then be transmitted to veach ot the individual vacuum chambers 5 it the proper valves 10-11 be open. llt the air relief valve 9 and sampling bib valve 8 be closed, this ynegative pressure Will be transmitted to the suction supply line G aoaaaua leading trom each ot the individual vacuum chambers 5 and lt-he pressure of the atmospheric air upon the source from which the sample is taken Will cause a portion ot the Water to be sampled to pass through the duct 6 into the individual vacuum chamber 5 until it is lilled, When it Will overflow through 10-11-17 into the goblet 12,

. Which in turn Will overdovv into the main vacuum chamber 1 and Will be Withdrawn trom the same by the ejector through the duct Ll, thus maintaining a constant [low through the individual vacuum chambers 5 and the goblet 12 associated therewith. lBy closing the positive valve 10 between the individual vacuum chamber 5 and t-he main vacuum chamber 1 the dow through the individual vacuum chamber 6 will be stopped. 'llhe check valve 7 on the suction supply line 6 oit the individual vacuum chamber 5 will -prevent the Water returning t-o the source from'vvhich it came. B opening the air reliefvalve 9 and the loik 8 the Water con-v tained in the individual vacuum chamber 5 may be Withdrawn under proper bacteriological precautions and Will serve as an accurate sample ot the source from which it is taken. A Waste pipe is shown at 14 to carry voff any duid which falls'upon the ledgeof the member 15.

lt will be understood that l may use any suitable means for producing a source ot negative pressure and that l have herein shovv'n only one form of my invention. will also be obvio-us to those skilled in the art that numerous and extensive departures :trom the forms and details here shown may be made Without departing from the spiritot this invent-ion, the same being shown solely for the purpose ot clearly illustrating one specitic embodiment thereof.

l claim 1. lin a device of the class described, the combination otja main vacuum chamber, a plurality of companion vacuum chambers, meansvt/o connect said main chamber to said companion chambers, means to collect a duid, a plurality ot sources ot fluid and a source ot negative pressure connected to said main chamber adapted to cause fluid to dow from said sources to said collecting means.

'2. ln a device ot the class described, the combination ot a gas tight chamber, a source of liuid, means connecting said source and said chamber for conducting duid trom the source tothe chamber, means in said chamber to catch and retain duid trom said source and a source ot negative pressure for l source to the chamber, a plurality ot auxil- 'v iary chambers associated with the main chamber, means in said main chamber to catch and ret-ain a portion of the liquid from said source and means to cause the liquid from said source to flow through said chambers and to said retaining means. l

il. ln a device of the class described, the combination of a main vacuum chamber, a plurality of companion vacuum chambers associated therewith, 'a source of negative pressure for causing flu-id to flow through said chambers, means to catch and retain fluid thus caused to flow into said main chamber and means in the Walls of said main chamber whereby the fluid caught and retained may be inspected.

5. fn a device of the. class described, the combination of a main" vacuum chamber, a second vacuum chamber connected there with, al source of pressure for creating a flow of fluid through said chambers and transparentmeans in the Walls of said chamber permitting the inspection of the fluid in the chamber.

G. ln a. device of the class described, the combination of an air tight chamber having an opening therein, a cover for said opening adapted to be placed in the opening and to form an air tight connection therewith, a source of fluid, means in the main chamber adjacent said opening to catch and retain fluid, and means to cause fluid to flow from said source into said retaining means.

ln a. device of the class described, the combination of an air tightchamber, means to cause fluid to flow into .said chamber, means in said chamber to catch and retain fluid flowing therein, a glass Wall in said chamber on one side of said retaining means and a source of light on the other side thereof.

8. ln a device of the class-described, the combination of means to collect a plurality of fluid samples, a source of negative pressure for'causing fluid to flow into said means, and means for permit-ting an examination of said samples.

9. ln a device of' the class described, the combination of a source of fluid, a chamber,

a source of negative pressure for causing fluid flowing bet-Ween the source of light and*y sai-d last named'means.' y

1l. lin a device of the class descrlbed, the combination of a main chamber, a secondary chamber communicating therewith, a ductv connectimgl such chambers, a valve controlling said duct, a source of fluid, means to connect said source with the secondary chamber, means in t-he main chamber to catch and retain fluid therein, means to cause fluid to `flou7 from said source to said retaining means, a lamp in said main chamber and transparent means in the Walls of the main chamber.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

CHARLES ARTHUR BROWN.

Witnesses:

I. D. SEILER, H. A. FRENAYE. 

